Good News, Local Voices & Community Stories : Bassetlaw News Highlights from the Last Week

Local News that Matters from Bassetlaw's Favourite Newsletter. No Ads, No Paywall .... Just News

Well that's the end of another busy week of news from around Bassetlaw and the surrounding area - as usual we've taken a selection of our published content and shortened them, where possible into one catch-up newsletter.

Why not grab a Sunday morning brew, grab a digestive and take ten to catch up on our shortened highlights from this week's Bassetlaw Today newsletters.

Covering all things Bassetlaw the full articles can be accessed in our daily newsletters 100% FREE on https://bassetlaw-today.ghost.io/ .

I hope you enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great weekend wherever you are.

Justin Doddy, Editor

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter here if you haven't already and remember to send us your pictures and stories from around Bassetlaw.

‘Vacant’ former bingo hall set for revamp

By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS

An empty former bingo hall in Worksop is being revamped for potential new business.

It is understood that the bingo hall closed earlier in 2026, with a company Statement of Affairs document, dated April 1, showing it owed creditors around £93,000. A liquidator was appointed that month.

Now, Bridford Property Investments Ltd is set to re-purpose the ‘vacant’ space. It comes after a planning application to Bassetlaw District Council to change the use of the former bingo club for commercial, business and service purposes was approved this month.

It is not known at this stage what the building could be used for, or what business could move into it.

Staying Put foster care, supporting past 18 into adulthood

Turning 18 is a major milestone for any young person. It can be an exciting time, but it can also bring new challenges as they begin to make decisions about their future, manage new responsibilities and prepare for adult life.

There can sometimes be a misconception that when a young person in foster care reaches 18, they automatically must leave their foster home. However, this is not always the case.

Staying Put is an arrangement that allows a young person to remain living with their foster carer after they turn 18. When a young person reaches adulthood, they are no longer legally considered to be in foster care, but Staying Put enables the supportive relationship they have built with their foster carer to continue.

This provides young people with stability, reassurance and the time they need to develop confidence, life skills and independence at their own pace. It recognises that becoming an adult is a journey, and having a trusted adult and familiar home environment can make a significant difference.

For young people who have grown up in foster care, continued support from someone they know and trust can be invaluable.

If you would like to find out more about Staying Put or the different types of fostering available with Foster for East Midlands Councils, visit our website and complete an online enquiry form or call 03033 132950.

Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire County Council

Good news for fans of the King William IV in Worksop

There could be a positive future ahead for the King William IV Brewers Fayre at Oldcotes, Worksop after it was named on a list of 53 sites that could be saved from closure.

Recent reports from The Sun and Yahoo News explain that Whitbread, the owner of Brewers Fayre and Beefeater, is pressing ahead with plans to close hundreds of branded restaurant sites as part of a major restructuring programme.

However, 53 locations have been earmarked for a potential rescue after being sold to Queensway Inns, which intends to continue operating them as hospitality venues and rebrand them into a new chain of value-focused pubs. Among those sites listed as being saved is:

King William IV – Brewers Fayre (Oldcotes, Worksop)

Sources: The Sun and Yahoo News.

Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards

The deadline to enter the Visit East Midlands Tourism Awards in Nottinghamshire has now been extended, giving tourism and hospitality businesses extra time to submit their entries.

From outstanding accommodation and attractions to unforgettable experiences and venues, these awards celebrate the very best of the East Midlands.

With 14 categories to choose from, now's the perfect time to showcase your business and gain the recognition you deserve.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire businesses have until the 21 August: https://orlo.uk/pWhYs

Policing operation cracks down on antisocial behaviour in Worksop

Targeted police efforts are cracking down on prolific offenders responsible for shoplifting and antisocial behaviour in Worksop town centre.

Nottinghamshire Police launched Operation Leadership to target criminality and other nuisance behaviour on the high street and across Worksop town centre more broadly.

Neighbourhood officers in the area have implemented a problem-management plan, which is used by police to analyse a recurring issue and achieve the best possible outcome for communities.

They have introduced a raft of crime prevention methods including new, mobile CCTV units that can be placed in an aisle of a shop overlooking frequently targeted products – which have seen reductions of 53 per cent in some locations.

Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police.

Bassetlaw Museum returns with expanded opening hours

Following the successful completion of a major project to preserve its extensive collection, Bassetlaw Museum is expanding its opening hours, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum five days a week from Tuesday 1^st September.

In April 2025, the Museum took urgent action to protect its collection after one of its storage facilities were deemed no longer suitable for the safe preservation of its artefacts.

Now that the work has been completed, the museum will now be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00am to 4:45pm.

Rededication of Worksop War Memorial

A short service led by the Reverend Nigel Stones, Idle & Sands Benefice and Chaplain to Worksop Branch, Royal British Legion was held in Worksop (Sunday 16^th August 2026) to rededicate the war memorial.

This follows the addition of a plaque to the memorial, remembering Sergeant Wayne Rees from Worksop, killed in Iraq in January 2007, whilst serving with The Queen’s Royal Lancers.

Attending the service alongside Sergeant Rees family were Veterans, Civic Dignitaries and Deputy Lieutenant, Colonel Nicholas Hile DL. A tribute to Wayne Rees was delivered by Captain Ange Lansberry, RCMO, The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own).

Know your Place

Know your Place: Rhodesia is a partnership between Rhodesia Parish Council and Bassetlaw District Council, aimed at encouraging better understanding of the local area and the identification of a set of local priorities.

Next Tuesday, 25 August 2026, a Know your Place event is being hosted in Rhodesia, providing an opportunity for all interested parties to engage with a range of maps about the local area and contribute to the emerging list of local priorities.

The details of the event are as follows:

Tuesday 25 August 2026, Between 4PM and 7PM

Rhodesia Village Hall, 11 Tylden Road, Rhodesia, Worksop, S80 3HL

You can find out more about Know Your Place: Rhodesia at: https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/.../know-your-place-rhodesia/

You can also learn about the background to the initiative at: https://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/.../introducing-know-your.../

NFRS & EMAS Continue Co-Responder Partnership In Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) have renewed their co-responder partnership, supporting the continued delivery of the scheme from East Leake and Misterton Fire Stations.

The updated agreement sets out how specially trained on-call firefighters can assist with certain Category 1 medical emergencies when operationally available, providing early support until ambulance colleagues arrive.

The scheme forms part of the ongoing collaborative working between the two emergency services, helping to support communities across Nottinghamshire. Firefighters taking part receive specialist training and operate within a jointly agreed clinical governance framework.

Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Worksop Cricket Club Break-In - Can You Help?

The team at Worksop Cricket Club has shared the upsetting news that the club was broken into during the early hours of the morning (August 17), with high-value items stolen and damage caused both inside and outside the building.

If anyone has any information that may assist with this incident, no matter how small it may seem, please contact Worksop Cricket Club or the police.

Nottinghamshire Police is assisting with enquiries, and everyone hopes for a positive resolution as quickly as possible.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: What will happen to Nottinghamshire’s Union Flag banners under boundary shake-ups?

By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS

Keeping Nottinghamshire’s controversial Union Flag banners may not be a “priority” under a new wider Nottingham council, councillors say.

The Reform-led county council made news last October when it announced it would be spending £75,000 installing 164 Union Flag banners on lampposts along the county’s roads. They were rolled out around the end of November and beginning of December 2025.

Its decision was partly to “enhance civic pride” in the area and draw in some cash from local businesses who could end up sponsoring them. So far, none have been sponsored.

The move has been criticised by opposition members on the authority, with some labelling the project a waste of taxpayers’ money and questioning if the cash could have been better spent on other services.

Council leader Mick Barton has often defended the banners, recently claiming they were funded with savings made on cabinet positions and not from money taken from any service.

But Nottinghamshire is heading towards its biggest boundary shake-up in 50 years with Local Government Reorganisation, which will see parts of Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe merged with Nottingham to create a new unitary authority and another unitary to serve the remaining county.

Seeing as some of the banners will one day fall under the new Greater Nottingham Council, it raises the question: what will happen to Reform’s banners?

Support for Nottinghamshire Farmers During Drought Conditions

Farmers across England will receive new support to help manage the impact of prolonged dry weather as the government steps up its response to the ongoing drought.

The package announced on 15 August includes:

💷 Temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management (ELM) agreements, allowing farmers affected by drought to continue receiving payments while taking practical steps to protect livestock, crops and land. This includes creating firebreaks and cutting or grazing land in ELM agreements to help ease shortages of animal feed and bedding.

🌱 An extra £50 million for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2, taking the total SFI26 budget to £290 million.

💧 Action to make it easier to build reservoirs by reducing unnecessary barriers and updating planning guidance.

🚜 £15 million to support the construction of on-farm reservoirs, helping farmers store water and strengthen resilience against future droughts.

✅ Improved access to water during drought conditions, with the Environment Agency prioritising requests for short-term variations to abstraction licence conditions.

Further information available on : https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/15/new-drought-support-for-farmers/

Credit: DEFRA

Mayor Opens £10,000 Fund for Grassroots Sports Organisations

Community groups across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are being encouraged to apply for a share of £10,000 following Mayor Claire Ward's Summer of Sport initiative.

The new Community Activity Challenge Fund will offer grants of £250 to £2,000 to help local organisations deliver free sport and physical activity opportunities between 1 September and 30 November 2026. 🤝

Funding can support a wide range of activities, including:

✅ Community sports sessions
🚶 Walking initiatives
♿ Disability sport programmes
👩 Women's and girls' activities
🎉 Community events
🏃 Sport-focused holiday provision

The fund aims to increase participation in physical activity while supporting healthier, stronger and more connected communities.

Glass Recycling Service Delivers Early Success

Bassetlaw residents and waste collection crews are being praised after more than 770 tonnes of glass have been collected since the launch of the Council’s new kerbside glass recycling service.

Introduced at the end of April, the service has been welcomed by households across the district, helping to ensure hundreds of tonnes of glass bottles, jars and containers are recycled instead of being placed in general waste.

Bins are collected from households every six-weeks and during the first 12 weeks of the service, crews collected a total of 771.22 tonnes.

Arrest made after shop robbed by man brandishing broken bottle

Detectives investigating a robbery where a broken bottle was brandished have made an arrest.

That's after a corner shop in Wesley Road, Retford, was targeted by a man wearing a baseball cap and face covering.

Armed with a broken glass bottle in his hand, the man charged inside the store, before hurdling the counter and demanding cash.

Having forced a staff member to open the till, the robber emptied it – snatching more than £700 in cash before fleeing from the shop.

Nobody sustained any injuries during the robbery, which happened around 9.25pm on 5 August.

Detectives have been investigating the offence since it was reported and, following extensive inquiries within the community, have now identified a suspect.

A 45-year-old man was duly arrested on suspicion of robbery on Monday (17 August).

Despite the arrest, officers are continuing to investigate the incident in its entirety, so can now release these two pictures of a man they're trying to identify.

Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police

Council tenants describe rot, rats and relatives falling through floors

By: Joe Locker, LDRS

Tenants say they have been living in council homes plagued with damp, mould and rat infestations – but improvements since have impressed a regulator.

Residents living in Hirst Road, Retford, have faced significant damp and mould problems in their homes, so much so one woman’s flooring collapsed while her relative was visiting.

Their concerns come after the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) inspected Bassetlaw District Council’s housing stock, and awarded the authority the second-best rating possible.

Mum-of-four Kimberley Wilson, who has lived in her council home for 14 years, said the flooring in her living room has collapsed twice due to damp and rot.

The council told the LDRS that following a thorough investigation, it was found the issue with her flooring had been caused by a blocked soak-away, which required the replacement of the flooring and joists on the ground floor, among other work.

During 2025/26, the council says it carried out a total of 22,786 repairs and completed over 98 per cent of within the timescales.

A dedicated damp and mould team has also been established, which last year carried out works and repairs in 975 cases.

What an incredible effort from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service this summer

Since 1 July, NFRS crews have tackled 910 outdoor fires and 27 wildfires across Nottinghamshire, an increase of around 80% compared to the same period last year.

These figures highlight not only the challenges posed by the hot, dry weather, but also the dedication, professionalism and resilience of the firefighters, control room staff and support teams who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service have issued a huge thank you to everyone involved in this outstanding response during a particularly demanding summer. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

And while we're all enjoying the sunshine, it sounds like a little rain might be welcome right about now!

📸Credit: Original content, image and statistics to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS).

List of retail vacancy rates in Nottinghamshire

By: Lauren Monaghan, LDRS

With the British high street scene being squeezed over recent years, some Nottinghamshire towns have a high number of vacant units – but is the picture improving?

More and more people are shopping online, businesses are struggling with market conditions, and retail units are being left to gather dust.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked each Nottinghamshire borough and district council to provide its retail unit vacancy rates in its largest two towns – and towns in the north of the county appear to be the most empty.

Town and areas with the most retail units empty

Worksop, Bassetlaw’s largest town, currently has a high number of retail units lying empty, with a vacancy rate of 17.12 per cent at March 2026 – this has improved since 19.86 per cent in March 2025.
Mansfield town is close behind, with 17 per cent of shops vacant.
While Calverton, in Gedling, is classified as a village, its growing size in recent years has earned the local jibe of ‘Calver-town’, with 16 per cent of retail units sitting empty, according to the council.
Stapleford has 14 per cent of its retail units’ overall floor space unoccupied, according to Broxtowe Borough Council, who choose to calculate vacancy rates this way.
In Sutton town centre, in the Ashfield district, there is a vacancy rate of 13.2 per cent.
Newark town’s empty shop unit rate sits at 12.02 per cent.
Mansfield Woodhouse currently has 12 per cent of retail units sitting empty.
Arnold, which has the largest town centre in Gedling Borough, has a retail vacancy rate of 10.6 per cent.

Towns and areas where the retail scene is performing better

Beeston’s vacancy rate, calculated based on the percentage of overall retail floor space that is empty, is four per cent, meaning it has a 96 per cent occupancy rate and is the highest in the borough.
Bingham, in Rushcliffe, has a five per cent vacancy rate.
Retford, in Bassetlaw, has a vacancy rate in its retail spaces of 5.44 per cent as of March 2026, down from 8.16 per cent in March 2025.
West Bridgford, Rushcliffe’s largest town, has a six per cent vacancy rate.
Mapperley Plains, while a suburb on the Gedling and Nottingham border, has a vacancy rate of 8.6 per cent, according to Gedling Borough Council.
Ollerton, the second largest settlement in the Newark and Sherwood District has a vacancy rate of 9.57 per cent.

What are the councils doing to boost the retail scene and footfall in their towns?

Bassetlaw

In Bassetlaw, the success in bringing down its vacancy rates has been partly due to it being an early adopter of the HSRA initative, its ‘Discover’ campaigns for Worksop and Retford to increase footfall, free business support and small growth grants.

There has also been more money towards shop fit-out grants of up to £15,000 to attract new businesses as part of the government’s Pride in Place funding, which enabled seven empty units to be brought back into use in Retford, Worksop and Harworth and Bircotes.

East Midlands to receive funding to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

People facing homelessness and rough sleeping across the East Midlands are set to benefit from a share of new Government funding aimed at preventing homelessness, helping people off the streets and providing long-term support to rebuild their lives.

The Government has announced a £442 million package to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping across England.

As part of this investment, local authorities across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will receive a collective funding pot of £3.6 million to support local services, while the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) will receive more than £10 million in 2027/28 and 2028/29 to help drive regional action and partnership working.

The announcement also includes funding for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund.

Source/Credit: East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)

Appeal for witnesses after A1 crash

Officers investigating a serious crash on the A1 are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Police were called to the A1 southbound at the junction with the Great North Road near Fernwood shortly after 5pm on Sunday, 16 August after a crash involving two cars and a van.

Two people who were initially trapped in a car were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Four other people, two of whom were in the van and two who were in another car, walked away from the collision uninjured. Another person in this car, a pregnant woman, was also taken to hospital as a precaution.

Officers investigating the crash are now appealing for anyone who may have seen what happened, or who may have dash-cam or mobile phone footage, to come forward without delay.

Anyone with information or footage should call 101 quoting incident number 441 of 16 August.

Fancy Driving a Bus for a Living?

Nottinghamshire job seekers have the chance to get behind the wheel and experience bus driving for themselves at Stagecoach East Midlands' upcoming Recruitment Day!

On Saturday 29th August, Stagecoach East Midlands will be welcoming local people aged 18+ with a full driving licence to its Mansfield depot at Millennium Business Park.

Attendees can:

✅ Test their skills on a state-of-the-art Bus Simulator
✅ Explore a training bus
✅ Take part in a supervised driving exercise in a real bus
✅ Meet the team and learn more about becoming a Bus Driver
✅ Find out about opportunities in Driving, Engineering, Cleaning and Support roles

To attend, please bring:

📋 Driving licence check code
📋 Proof of National Insurance number
📋 Passport or full birth certificate
📋 Right to work check code (if applicable)

Content courtesy of Stagecoach Group

Experienced sniffer dog now operational with new handler

Officers searching for vital evidence will have an experienced nose at their disposal – a freshly qualified Labrador.

PD Sadie first joined Nottinghamshire Police in 2021 and has now completed her five weeks of specialist search training with a new handler.

The six-year-old fox red Labrador has been trained to sniff out drugs, cash, firearms, and ammunition at crime scenes.

She will be the first specialist search animal for experienced handler PC Sam Hawker, alongside his general-purpose dog PD Tuco.

The energetic Labrador was put through her paces in a series of search scenarios on 13 August, overseen by an external examiner.

PD Sadie successfully detected samples in dense woodland, inside buildings, and in and around a parked car.

The force utilises two types of police dogs: general-purpose animals adept at chasing and searching, and specialist search dogs, who can sniff out concealed drugs and other forensic evidence.

Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police.

Retford’s Independent Living Centre getting a makeover

Work to transform Conway Gardens, an Independent Living Centre in Retford owned by Bassetlaw District Council, is getting underway.

Contractors, the Gelder Group, are modernising the building inside and out, creating 36 bright, modern and welcoming apartments.

Tenants will benefit from new bathrooms, kitchens and communal areas whilst energy efficiency measures such as solar panels and external wall insulation will also be installed.

Bassetlaw council’s Independent Living Centres are a collection of self-contained apartments and flats that specifically cater for older residents who wish to live in a community setting.

Appeal after overnight Newark shop break-in

An investigation is underway after a Newark shop was broken into overnight.

Police attended Morrisons, in King's Road, after hearing a burglary had just taken place.

This happened around 1.30am today (20 August), with intruders smashing a glass window with a drain cover.

A charity tin, fragrances, vapes and cleaning products were all reportedly then taken from the store during the incident.

Police at this stage believe two men may have been involved in the break-in and are now launching an appeal to the public for any further information.

The police can be contacted directly on 101, quoting incident 28 of 20 August 2026, while information can be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

PCC helps fund Notts man’s journey from homelessness to hope

A Nottingham man who spent more than a decade trapped in a cycle of homelessness, substance use and prison says he has finally found hope thanks to a pioneering recovery programme predominantly funded by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden.

For more than a decade, Duik experienced homelessness, chronic substance use and repeated prison sentences. More than thirty treatment episodes were recorded, but a familiar pattern would emerge: Duik would engage with services following his release from custody before returning to substance use, disengaging from treatment and ultimately finding himself back in the criminal justice system.

A significant change came after his referral to Open2Recovery, a partnership pathway which helps people experiencing repeated cycles of substance use and offending access support that meets their individual needs. Whether residential rehabilitation or community treatment, Open2Recovery creates bespoke pathways that support longer-term recovery.

The impact extended beyond his recovery from drugs. Duik began rebuilding his relationship with his daughter and wider family, volunteered during rehabilitation and used his own experiences to support others preparing to begin their recovery journeys. He went on to receive two awards recognising his positive contribution to Open2Recovery services.

Since his latest release, Duik has again made significant progress. He is engaging with probation, Clean Slate, mental health services and Open2Recovery, proactively asking for help when experiencing cravings and preparing for another residential rehabilitation placement.

Thanks so much for reading our local newsletter and for supporting us. We’re committed to providing Bassetlaw with the quality local news service it deserves, but sustaining this work may come with some challenges. Our team is currently discussing how to make Bassetlaw Today financially viable in the long term, and one option we’re considering is introducing a subscription model to help cover our costs.

We want to be open with you about these conversations so you’re aware that a fee may need to be introduced in the future. If that happens, we hope you’ll continue to stand with us and support the publication.

Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.

Justin Doddy, Editor